I won! I won! Disney trip! UPDATE: WE'RE HOME!

[DznyLvr2005]

I can't believe things like this do happen...I signed up for the Macy's Celebrates Mom Sweepstake back in April and I am one of the grand prize winners. You should have seen me when they called me on Friday

I got a 5 night/6 day trip for 4 to BOTH Disneyland and DisneyWorld!!I got my airfare, ground transporation from airports to Disney, Disney Resort accomodations, VIP Experiences, $200 gift card to Disneyland and a $300 gift card to DisneyWorld.

This is definately legit, I've received all my paperwork and now just waiting for a Disney Rep to call me to scheduled my flights etc.

I had resented to the fact that there wouldn't be any more Disney trips with my family due to money. My DD asks every year if we could go Now I have a trip to DisneyWorld and also to be able to experience Disneyland too - oh my goodness!!

It will be a whirlwind of a week but I'm ready for it! We go in June

Thanks for letting me share my good news with you.

Oh WOW!!! CONGRATS!!! I enetered that contest too!!! unfortunately, not a winner here... hehe.. HAVE FUN!!!

 

[carrie6466]

Congratulations winners! I won a trip in a different contest and just wanted to say that the airport we use isn't serviced by SW. Our flights are on Delta.

 

[NC_Mom]

Congratulations winners! I won a trip in a different contest and just wanted to say that the airport we use isn't serviced by SW. Our flights are on Delta.

Thanks for the info. Maybe Delta is their backup?

 

[NC_Mom]

Ok, so I think since everything is starting to sink in...I may be going into panic mode! I just read through the 45 pages of one thread of what/how to pack so I think i have that under control.

But, I don't want us to arrive in CA or Fl, and say...ok, what first?! I want to have a game plan. Now I know I really can't do any of that until we get our package/itinerary. But is 2/3 weeks going to be enough time to get a "plan" together? I'm afraid without some kind of plan, we will waste 1/2 the day trying to figure out what to do!

A friend of mine recommended this book, "The UNofficial Guide to Disney." She thought it was very helpful for her trip. I haven't looked at it but I am sure someone on here could tell us if it's worth purchasing or not.

I'm just not sure if we are going to have to follow some sort of itinerary. What also makes it a bit difficult to plan is that we're going to be at Disneyland for couple days then Disney World for the rest of the trip.

I'm so overwhelmed!!!!

 

[Kriddlet]

A friend of mine recommended this book, "The UNofficial Guide to Disney." She thought it was very helpful for her trip. I haven't looked at it but I am sure someone on here could tell us if it's worth purchasing or not.

I'm just not sure if we are going to have to follow some sort of itinerary. What also makes it a bit difficult to plan is that we're going to be at Disneyland for couple days then Disney World for the rest of the trip.

I'm so overwhelmed!!!!

Me too! I have spent the better part of this weeked on these boards

I do know there are a couple group things we do, and other than that, we are on our own. I know I can't really plan anything until we get the itinerary and tickets, etc in the overnight package. But I want to be ready for when it gets here! I am not so much worried about Disneyland as I am about Disneyworld, since World is so much bigger.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

I can help with the Disney World part (see my siggy) but I've never been to Disneyland so I'm no help there.

Does the paperwork say anything about you being assigned a special cast member to help you through the parks or is it clear that you're "on your own" once you get to the parks?

Because if they assign somebody to you, you're good to go in terms of touring the parks! Just let the castmember show you the way.

If you're own your own, I know people (me included) can answer questions

 

[ibouncetoo]

Congrats to all three of you!

You don't need to worry much about having a plan for Disneyland, as you have less ground to cover, you can see/do it much more easily.

WDW is a whole different story!

Once you get your packages, just fill us all in and then we'll have more recommendations and suggestions for your free time than you'll know what to do with!

.

 

[chell]

Congrats to the winners! It's cool to see at least 3 DISers who won.

 

[Trish Bessette]

Ok, so I think since everything is starting to sink in...I may be going into panic mode! I just read through the 45 pages of one thread of what/how to pack so I think i have that under control.

But, I don't want us to arrive in CA or Fl, and say...ok, what first?! I want to have a game plan. Now I know I really can't do any of that until we get our package/itinerary. But is 2/3 weeks going to be enough time to get a "plan" together? I'm afraid without some kind of plan, we will waste 1/2 the day trying to figure out what to do!

I know - we don't have much time to plan anything. I tried making a dinner reservation in Disneyworld for our favorite place and it was booked I'm afraid it will be like that for most places since it is so close to when we are going.

I'm going to pretty much wing the trip. Let each day kind of happen. We have a planned breakfast and dinner and beside that I will just enjoy each day as it comes.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

I know - we don't have much time to plan anything. I tried making a dinner reservation in Disneyworld for our favorite place and it was booked I'm afraid it will be like that for most places since it is so close to when we are going.

I'm going to pretty much wing the trip. Let each day kind of happen. We have a planned breakfast and dinner and beside that I will just enjoy each day as it comes.

Keep calling, every day, up until and including the day you are there. Stuff opens up all the time. I can't tell you how many last minute ressies I got just by calling repeatedly.

It doesn't hurt to tell the castmember on the phone that you won the contest, are really excited, and haven't been. They love talking to you (most of the good ones do), and it's always fun to call CRO when you get a castmember that's excited about disney.

 

[Trish Bessette]

Keep calling, every day, up until and including the day you are there. Stuff opens up all the time. I can't tell you how many last minute ressies I got just by calling repeatedly.

It doesn't hurt to tell the castmember on the phone that you won the contest, are really excited, and haven't been. They love talking to you (most of the good ones do), and it's always fun to call CRO when you get a castmember that's excited about disney.

Thank you for this advise. I will keep calling. I did try again this morning only for them to answer and say their computers are down

 

[Kriddlet]

I know - we don't have much time to plan anything. I tried making a dinner reservation in Disneyworld for our favorite place and it was booked I'm afraid it will be like that for most places since it is so close to when we are going.

I'm going to pretty much wing the trip. Let each day kind of happen. We have a planned breakfast and dinner and beside that I will just enjoy each day as it comes.

I was hoping to make a breakfast reservation at Disney World, but wasn't sure if I should do it know, or wait until we get our itinerary. I figured with my luck, I would book it the same day as something else But, I beleive we only have 1 dinner planned there.

I could just call and try to get one, and then cancel, if there is something else we are doing, right

AHHHHHH! I'm so excited...and overwhelmed!

 

[Bayoumama]

Congratulations to all 3 of you !!! Glad to see some really deserving DIS members won. On one of your posts I saw you mentioned a book on WDW. I highly suggest getting some sort of guide to WDW. If you look at a book store or maybe even a used book store you can find several guides. Get familiar with what rides and shows are at all 4 parks so when you get the itinerary and you see where you HAVE to go, you can plan accordingly to where you WANT to go !!!! WDW is way too big to wing it (of course that is coming from a person who obsessively plans everything).

Can't wait to read more on your trips!!!! Don't forget...several of us who can't go to Disney anytime soon due to finances are taking this trip vicariously through you .....

 

[Piglets Mommy]

Ok, so I think since everything is starting to sink in...I may be going into panic mode! I just read through the 45 pages of one thread of what/how to pack so I think i have that under control.

But, I don't want us to arrive in CA or Fl, and say...ok, what first?! I want to have a game plan. Now I know I really can't do any of that until we get our package/itinerary. But is 2/3 weeks going to be enough time to get a "plan" together? I'm afraid without some kind of plan, we will waste 1/2 the day trying to figure out what to do!

I think you are being smart by chaecking out th ese boards. Wven though you can't make a definitive plan until you get your itenerary, you are learning the basics, like what Extra magic hours are, how fast pass and child swap works, etc. then when you get your itenerary, you can make a few more plans from there. I'd suggest maybe having weach member of the family pick 2 or 3 things that they "must do" in each park, try to get those in first, and then just try and do whatever else you can. That way everybody gets to try the attractions they really wanted to do.

A friend of mine recommended this book, "The UNofficial Guide to Disney." She thought it was very helpful for her trip. I haven't looked at it but I am sure someone on here could tell us if it's worth purchasing or not.

I'm just not sure if we are going to have to follow some sort of itinerary. What also makes it a bit difficult to plan is that we're going to be at Disneyland for couple days then Disney World for the rest of the trip.

I'm so overwhelmed!!!!

I have used that in the past...It's great for first timers, or those who don't go frequently. Also, if you buy the book, you have access to their website, which predicts what parks will be better on what days. You may or may not be able to use that depending on how detialed your itenerary is. There is also an "Unofficial Guide" for kids I forghet how old you said yours were, but if they can read, they would enjoy having this for on the plane.

I'd go in with a very basic plan of what you'd like to see, and take it from there.

As others have said, once you get your iteneraries, share them with us, and we will help you from there!

 

[Trish Bessette]

WOW - can you believe it keeps getting better. The disney rep said our breakfast and dinner events will be PRIVATE with SURPRISES

Disney - have I told you how much I love you

Macy's - have I told you how much I love you too

 

[mamamary]

WOW - can you believe it keeps getting better. The disney rep said our breakfast and dinner events will be PRIVATE with SURPRISES

Disney - have I told you how much I love you

Macy's - have I told you how much I love you too

I'm so excited for you!

 

[Kriddlet]

WOW - can you believe it keeps getting better. The disney rep said our breakfast and dinner events will be PRIVATE with SURPRISES

Disney - have I told you how much I love you

Macy's - have I told you how much I love you too

Me too! Me Too!

I can't wait!!

 

[Piglets Mommy]

WOW - can you believe it keeps getting better. The disney rep said our breakfast and dinner events will be PRIVATE with SURPRISES

Disney - have I told you how much I love you

Macy's - have I told you how much I love you too

Please take lots of pictures to show us!!!

 

[Trish Bessette]

Please take lots of pictures to show us!!!

I will!

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

It would be nice if the tag fairy could tag y'all with a cool tag for winning!